No enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings or political repression in six months: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has claimed that no incidents of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing or political repression happened in the six months since the government took office.

He made the claim at a programme marking Janmashtami at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday (September 3).

Salahuddin said the government remains committed to continuing democratic practices and ensuring citizens’ constitutional rights. He called for collective efforts to sustain democracy and uphold those rights.

He also said no citizen would be discriminated against based on religious identity, stressing that all citizens enjoy equal rights under the Constitution. He urged everyone to work to preserve communal harmony.

Referring to the government’s pledge to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh following the mass uprising, the minister called for support for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and urged people to help strengthen his efforts to achieve the goal.

Salahuddin also recalled an experience from his political career in 1996, when he visited an area as a member of a parliamentary standing committee related to the Land Ministry and found around 2.5 acres of land under government control, while the remaining land was allegedly occupied by the Awami League.

He said the government-controlled portion had remained protected because it was being used as a cremation ground.

According to the minister, the property changed hands 10 to 12 times over the years, raising questions about how illegally occupied land can be recovered.

He said the experience highlighted the need for an effective state role in protecting public and other properties from illegal occupation.